Federal Way looked like it might get a strong-mayor form of government, and Fife voters appeared to give themselves a branch of the Pierce County Library System in early suburban election returns Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, sitting mayors and council members in most Pierce County suburbs were winning their re-election bids, with few challengers unseating incumbents in early vote counts.

The biggest ouster looked to be in University Place, where mayor and councilwoman Linda Bird was trailing challenger Javier Figueroa.

Bird has sat on the University Place City Council since the city’s incorporation in 1995 and has been a tireless defender of the city’s Town Center project. The downtown civic and retail complex on Bridgeport Way has been in the works since 2003, but it has yet to move beyond construction of a parking facility and early work on a library branch and City Hall building.

Figueroa said Tuesday that citizens in UP want change and are annoyed at the mismanagement of Town Center, which city officials originally hoped to complete in 2006.

“They really are frustrated with the lack of leadership, and the blame falls squarely on her,” Figueroa said Tuesday night.

Bird couldn’t be reached for comment. Should Figueroa’s lead hold, he wouldn’t inherit Bird’s position as mayor, because the position is a ceremonial one that rotates between council members.

In the other University Place council races, incumbent Councilwoman Lorna Smith was losing to Eric Choiniere, a member of the city’s parks commission, while incumbent Councilman Ken Grassi led Carl Mollnow, a retired Air Force pilot, by a wide margin.

In the race for the open Position 5 seat on the council, human resources professional Denise McCluskey led Rose Ehart, the founder of a local food and clothing bank.

SUBURBAN MAYORS

Most incumbent mayors in Pierce County and South King County cities were leading Tuesday against candidates trying to unseat them.

Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis was far ahead of Virginia Haugen, a sitting Auburn councilwoman.

In Sumner, Mayor Dave Enslow was beating Councilman Matthew Richardson in early returns.

Meanwhile, Orting Mayor Cheryl Temple led challenger Kim Farnes, the co-owner of a popular Orting cafe.

Milton Mayor Katrina Asay was also leading Milton Councilman Leonard Sanderson Tuesday night. Sanderson previously served as mayor of the Pierce County-King County border city.

Mayors in strong-mayor cities and towns such as Bonney Lake, Buckley, Gig Harbor, Steilacoom, Wilkeson and South Prairie didn’t face challengers this year and will start new terms next year.

PUYALLUP

Two City Council incumbents were leading in their races Tuesday, reducing the chances that three new faces will come to the conflict-ridden Puyallup council next year.

Councilman George Dill had an edge Tuesday over Tony Aho, an admissions official at Pacific Lutheran University.

Meanwhile, incumbent Rick Hansen was ahead in his race against Christopher Taylor, a retired Tacoma police detective. Hansen was appointed to the council’s District 2 seat in January 2008. The property manager and consultant said Tuesday that he thinks the early poll numbers are a sign that voters approved of his performance during his appointed term.

“I’m just thankful that the public has faith in me, and hopefully I can go out and continue to do the same things I’ve done, which is serve the public,” Hansen said Tuesday. He was previously elected to the council in the 1980s.

In the race for Puyallup’s open District 3 seat, radio host Kent Boyle was ahead of former Army ranger John Alexander. The early results from the general election show a reversal from the August primary, when Alexander led by a large margin.

LAKEWOOD

Three new people will sit on the Lakewood City Council come 2010, regardless of the final results from Tuesday’s election.

Incumbents Helen McGovern, Ron Cronk and Pad Finnigan didn’t seek re-election this year.

In the race for McGovern’s open seat, attorney Jason Whalen was ahead of community volunteer Sam Ross as of Tuesday night.

Fighting for Cronk’s seat, nurse Darrel Shiley was losing by a large margin to Mary Moss, a community relations manager for Harborstone Credit Union.

Mike Brandstetter, a dean at Bates Technical College, was leading Connie Coleman Lacadie, a current Clover Park School Board member, in the contest for Finnigan’s seat.

FEDERAL WAY

Voters in Federal Way were approving a switch from a council-manager form of government to one with an elected strong mayor.

Voters rejected the same strong mayor proposal in February 2008 – with a 55-percent “no” vote and a nearly 45-percent “yes” vote.”

“I think the people finally realized they wanted to have a greater voice in their government and they got it,” Federal Way City Council member Jim Ferrell said Tuesday night. He led the campaign for Proposition No. 1 and said he would run for mayor.

Also in Federal Way, incumbent City Council members Jeanne Burbidge and Linda Kochmar were winning. Roger Freeman was defeating Diana Noble-Gulliford for an open position.

Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058

melissa.santos@thenewstribune.com

Staff reporter Steve Maynard contributed to this report.